From Bonner and Middleton’s Bristol Journal – editorials all talk of either rebellions in America or French wars.

Notice for setting insurance claim for log-wood (dye wood) thrown overboard on the ship, the Nelly, from Jamaica (presumably to lighten the ship and save her in a bad storm or suchlike.

In 1776, the thirteen American colonies began fighting for independence from Britain. France, Spain and Holland supported the Americans. North America supplied the Caribbean islands with large amounts of food and supplies. The American colonies also bought a large amount of the sugar, rum and molasses produced. The resulting war seriously disrupted transatlantic trade, and Bristol merchants were affected by this. In the Caribbean, 3,000 slaves died as a result of food shortages caused by the war.